Mumbai blast link to ATS arrest in city?

The Pune ATS had arrested a person called Adil Khan, a resident of Pimpri, on January 8 for possessing a SIM card procured on fake documents. Khan was released on bail the next day.

The Pune ATS had arrested a person called Adil Khan, a resident of Pimpri, on January 8 for possessing a SIM card procured on fake documents. Khan was released on bail the next day.

Pune ATS sources have not confirmed whether the SIM card procured by Khan was used by any of the accused arrested by the Mumbai ATS in connection with the July 13 blasts at Opera House, Zaveri Bazar and Dadar. The blasts had killed 26 persons.

Khan, who is involved in the fabrication business, is originally from Bihar and had settled in the city a few years ago. According to the Pune ATS, Khan was living in Kondhwa and later shifted to Pimpri. ATS sources said he procured a SIM card, which was allegedly availed through mobile plan made available to him by one of his friends.

This information is being considered after ATS chief Rakesh Maria mentioned on Monday in a press conference that a group of boys from the city, Darbhanga and Mumbai were arrested for their involvement in running a racket to provide SIM cards based on bogus papers to the accused.

Sources in the Pune ATS refused to comment on whether the SIM card procured by Khan was used by the accused or not. The ATS has arrested eight persons, including Naki Ahmed Wasi Ahmed Sheikh (22), and Nadim Akhtar Ashfaq Sheikh (23), residents of Devram, Bamdeoli, Darbhanga. Nakhi Sheikh and Nadim Sheikh were arrested on January 12.

Both had provided stolen scooters, fake SIM cards and an apartment to Yasin Bhatkal and his associates to carry out the blasts.